Mining through maths: Minecraft play and mathematical problem solving
Abstract
Given the history of the importance of play, it would seem that video games, particularly sandbox games such as Minecraft may have educational potential for the development of mathematical problem solving skills. In this research, performance on maths problem solving and non-verbal reasoning was compared between those who played Minecraft, and video games, and those who did not. Children aged 10 to 13 completed a survey outlining Minecraft and video gaming habits, as well as non-verbal reasoning tasks and mathematical word problems. Results indicated no benefit in playing Minecraft for problem solving, however, playing Minecraft with others younger than themselves had a positive impact on word problem solving scores. A positive correlation was also found between time spent playing video games and non-verbal reasoning scores. Implications for these findings, as well as recommendation for future research are discussed.
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